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International Relations LECTURES
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The summaries of the 1st year International Relations lectures by Nicolas Blarel. Good luck with studying!
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International Relations - Dr. Nicolas BlarelThe Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations
Class 1: Introduction
● Higher education is transnational and global: the movement of individuals and ideas
between nations and cultures.
● Higher education affects the future nature of IR because of the differences people are
confronted with.
❖ Realism (material power: importance of anarchy - no higher power, only rely on yourself -
and security - the more tanks the safer your environment -), Liberalism (institutions, law and
sanctions to condemn force), Constructivism (different identity and interpretations of
history).
➢ ‘An International Relations Theory Guide to the War in Ukraine’ - S.M. Walt
Realism: (anarchy explains how states behave)
The focus of the analysis is the struggle for power amongst states and the anarchic
international system, the major actors are states. In other words, the world lives under a state
of international anarchy. As a result, states pursue security above other concerns. Distrust of
other states means they can only truly rely on themselves to protect their national interests.
Liberalism: (anarchy is paid attention to, but it can be overcome)
The focus is on enhancing global political and economic cooperation. This challenges the
realist assumption that states are primarily in conflict with one another. Liberalism states
emphasize peaceful transactions over zero-sum power projection.
Key concept: international law, economic interdependence, collective security, anything that's
cooperative. IR liberalism views states as rational individuals, cooperating and transacting for
mutual benefit.
Constructivism: (‘anarchy is what states make of it’ - Alexander Wendt, not a lonesome necessity
for explaining behavior)
Focuses on individual norms, cultures, histories, values and identities for each state, for
explanations of global politics, to figure out how and why we've arrived at the current state of
affairs. Anarchy doesn't have some unavoidable impact on the behavior of states (opposite of
realism). Constructivists counter realists by stating that security and national interest have no
single objective meaning for all states.
The role of human actors, the ideas and norms of individuals and societies and non-state
actors and how they help construct the behavior.
Video explanation of IR theories
,Class 2: Why do we need Concepts and Theories of IR?
Concepts are contested because:
➢ their definition is rarely consensual
➢ their meaning can change overtime
➢ of ethno-centrism (Eurocentric).
Concepts are useful to:
➢ make sense of complex realities (putting a label on IR is difficult because of uniqueness,
but an understanding is necessary)
➢ make sure we are talking about the same things
➢ ensure some degree of constructive dialogue (so different scholars don’t talk past each
other)
➢ develop and evaluate theories (linking concepts).
Theories are needed, because real life is too complex (data points, variables, moving parts).
Causal explanations are derived from theories (set of assumptions)
Theory:
➢ goes beyond mere description
➢ is an answer to ‘why did this happen?’
➢ interprets data
➢ identifies patterns across time and space
➢ helps us describe, explain, anticipate (“we’ve got x and Y, so Z could be happening
next”) and, eventually, prescribe
What are “International Relations”?
1. Who?
What type of actors are we talking about?
● The state in IR (1). The state as a person of international law should possess the
following qualifications:
a. a permanent population;
b. a defined territory
c. government
d. and a capacity to enter into relations with other states
● Problems:
a. Declarative (recognition by other states is not necessary) vs. constitutive theory
(an entity must gain recognition by other states to become a state) of statehood
b. How the “state” is created in practice matters (e.g. use of force)
c. Internal sovereignty: states monopolize some functions within its territory
d. Vs. external sovereignty: recognition and autonomy
,The states in IR (2), are simply a unit of analysis.
➢ ‘Entities with well-defined population, territory and recognized political authority
over a geographical space.’
That’s the theory, but in practice…? A pseudo-state? De Facto state? Contested state?
Should the IEA be recognized as a Should ISIS be recognized as a state?
state?
Yes: Yes:
❖ Control and monopoly of the use ❖ Control and governance of large
of force areas of territory
❖ Police and military force ❖ Available tax revenue
❖ Acting government, bureaucracy ❖ Police and military force
❖ Some (limited) diplomatic ❖ Infrastructure services
outreach
No:
No: ❖ No UN membership
❖ No official recognition from ❖ No recognition from other states
other states ❖ Legitimacy?
❖ Legitimacy? Inclusive ❖ Fluctuating population
government? (migration and claiming and
❖ Governance capacities? losing territory)
❖ Limited state capacities
What the state is not:
➢ Vs. a nation (not fixed, but fluid = can change overtime)
➢ Nation-state (what unites a nation?) (more of a political construction and don't
become crystallized/never fully successful)
➢ Nations can be across borders, and states can have multiple nations!
➢ Vs. non-state actors
○ Pirates (not aiming to be a state, they thrive on the blurred boundaries of
existing states)
○ Terrorists, companies
➢ State and sovereignty
○ Failed state
○ Globalization (technology, pandemics, climate change)
○ Supra-national and global governance
○ Disaggregated state (the state is a mythical entity. not every interaction
between states is done by the president or whatever, but by unmediated
, political players like ministries) (break down the state in all these factors with
their own way of dealing)
2. What?
What type of “relations” are we interested in?
What are international relations?
● Interactions:
➢ Ex.: war and peace, trade, international agreements
● Bilateral (few states) vs. multilateral (many states).
● But in fact, any state actions (or inactions!) which affect other states.
● Not just about interstate relations
➢ Transnational relations
➢ Non-state and sub-state actors
3. Where?
Where are these actors interacting?
What are international relations?
● International politics vs. national (/domestic) politics
○ = the level of analysis (images)
○ (1. international (between states), 2. national (within a state), 3. individual
(leaders)
● Does this distinction still matter in a “globalized” world? (No real borders,
because of technology etc., the fate of one country/region is linked to the rest)
○ Yes, it does. It matters from a theoretical perspective.
● National order vs. international anarchy
○ No sovereign
○ “War of all against all” → anarchy
○ “Fear and I were born twins together” → insecurity, non-trusting
● Self-help
○ No higher power, distrust of others, you have to rely on just yourself
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